Warp stop-motion for looms.



No. 744,940. PATENTED NOV. 24, 1903.

0. F. ROPER. WARP STOP MOTION FOR LOO-MS.

APPLIOATION FILED SEPT. 8, 1903. N0 MODEL. 2 SHEETS-SHEET 11.

m m R MV X l V//// PATENTED NOV. 24, 1903.. 0. F. ROPER. I WARP STOP MOTION FOR LOOMS.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. s, 1903.

2' SHEETS-SHEET 2.

N0 MODEL.

jwerchn NITED Sterne Patented November 24, 13903.

Parnwr Orrieia.

CHARLES F. ROPER, OF HOPEDALE, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO DRAPER COMPANY, OF HOPEDALE, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MAINE.

WARP STOP-MOTION FOR LOOfVlS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent NQ. 744,940, dated November 24, 1903.

Application filed September 3, 1903. Serial No. 172,319. (No model.)

To ctZZ whont 1125 may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES F. ROPER, aciti zen of the United States,residing at Hopedale, in the county of Worcester and State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Warp Stop-Motions for Looms, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like letters on the drawings representing like parts.

Thisinvention relates more particularly to that type of warp stop-motion wherein arrest of a vibrating feeler is made effective to stop automatically the operation of the loom.

In my present invention I have provided very simple, direct-actin g, and prompt means for effecting the feeler vibration by or through the movement of the lay, and the movement of the latter is also utilized to cause the operation of a stopping instrumentality when the feeling movement of the feeler is arrested. As will appear more fully hereinafter, I have so constructed and arranged the mechanism that the feeling action takes place on the backward beat of the lay, and should the feeler be arrested the next forward beat of thelay is made effective to cause the operation of the stopping instrumentality. After such operation the parts are automatically set or restored to normal Working condition. So, too, as soon as feeler arrest is accomplished the operation is such that the engaged detector is released from pressurea very desirable attainment-and should the detector jump up out of range of the feeler after arresting it no delay is caused in the operation of the stop-motion, for once feeler arrest is effected the detector has performed its duty, and the subsequent operation of the mechanism is wholly independent of the detector.

In setting the harnesses in a loom the time for feeling may be advanced or retarded, so that it is quite necessary to have considerable leeway in feeling for warp failure in order to accommodate setting of the harnesses. By

my present invention so much time is given to the feeling action that harnesssetting will not in any way interfere with such feeling action.

The various novel features of my invention will be fully described in the subjoined specification and particularly pointed out in the following claims.

Figure 1 is across-section of a sufficient portion of a loom to be understood with one embodiment of my invention applied thereto, the forward and back positions of the lay being shown in dotted and full lines, respectively. Fig. 2 is a plan View of the holdingplate for the shipper and a portion of the means for releasing the shipper. Fig. 3 is a sectional detail similar to Fig. 1, but showing the hunter as just about to engage and operate the knock-elf member, areleased detector having arrested the feeler. Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail of the hunter viewed from the outer side of the lay-sword, the full-line position of the hunter being that which effects the vibration of the feeler; and Fig. 5 is a front elevation, also enlarged, of the parts shown in Fig. 4 or viewing said figure from the right hand.

The lay A lay-swords A (only one being shown,) the shipper S, (adapted to operate any usual stopping instrumentality, such as a belt-shifter, not shown,) and its notched holding-plate N, Fig. 2, are all of well-known construction.

A releasing-lever k is fulcrumed at 70* (see Fig. 2) and has connected with it a rearwardlyextended link 70', provided with an eye 713 to loosely receive the upper end of a knock-off member. (Shown in Figs. 1 and 3 as a bellcrank lever mm.) Said memberisfulcrumed at m on the loom side below the breast-beam, the rearwardly-extended arm m having a lateral F-shaped or shouldered projection m at its free rear end and inwardly extended. The adjacent lay-sword A has preferably adjustably clamped upon it by a bolt 2, Fig. 5, a bracket to, provided with a forwardly-extended car a, in which is pivotally inserted a horizontal stud or fulcrum-pin b rigidly secured to or forming part of a hunter 1). The latter is shown as a flat plate of sufficient size to give it requisite strength and located adjacent the outer side of the lay-sword, the upper end of the plate terminating in a narrow extension or head I). At its lower end and below its fulcrum-stud b the hunter has a forwardly-extended tail 5 forming an obtuse angle with the extension, as shown in Fig. 4,

6o f in opposite directions.

while a lateral inwardly-extended projection b? is formed on the main portion of the hunter and extending in front of the bracket a. A second bracket a is secured to the lower end of the bracket a, as herein shown, and preferably adjustahly secured by a bolt 3, Fig. 5, said bracket having an outwardly-extended lateral lug a and a projection or stop a, the latter in the path of the hunter-tail 19 On the outer side of the hunter is secured a lateral pin 1), and a spring e is connected at one end to said pin, the other end of the spring being attached to the lug (1,

By reference to Fig. 4 it will be seen that when the projection 19 is in engagement with the bracket c, the latter then acting as a stop for the hunter, the pin 19 and lug a are so located with relation to the fulcrum b of the hunter that the pull of the spring will act to retain the hunter in full-line position. If, however, the hunter is swung forward in the direction of arrow 5 pastzdead-ceuter, the pull of the spring will he immediately transferred tothe opposite side of the fulcrum b and the spring will throw the hunter into dotted-line position, Fig. 4, bringing the tail 6 up against the stop (1 Thus the spring acts to retain the hunter at one or the other side of deadcenter, and if movement of the hunter is initiated in either direction the spring will complete such movement the instant the hunter passes dead-center, the latter, of course, denoting its position when pin 5, the fulcrum 11*, and the lug a are in line. Normally the hunter is held by the spring in full-line position, Fig. 4, and as shown in Fig. l by both full and dotted lines, and at such time the hunter-head I) cannot engage the shouldered end m of the knock-off member as the lay heats up; but upon failure of a warp-thread the hunter is moved on its fulcrum by means to he described into dotted-line position, Fig. 4, and full-line position, Fig. 3, and engages the part "m and operates the knock-off memher as the lay heats up.

I have herein shown the controlling-deiectors d of the warp stop-motion arranged in two banks or series for each harness-frame, the detectors also serving as heddles, and the transverse detector-supporting bars d of the frames pass through slots at inlthe detectors in well-known manner, said detectors being maintained inoperative by intact warpthreads. The feeler f cooperates with the detectors of each harness-frame, arms f connecting the feelers with suitably-supported parallel rock-shafts f provided with like intermeshing segmental gears f (see Fig. 1) to effect simultaneous rocking of the shafts Ordinarily the feelers vibrate below the detectors; but if enact the latter is released by breakage or failure of its warp-thread it will when its frame descends dropinto the path of and engage and arrest the corresponding feeler on its inward or feeling stroke in a manner familiar to'those skilled in the art. One of the rock-shafts f (the rearmost one herein) has a depending arm f fast thereon, pivotally connected atf with one end of alinkf The other end of the link is provided with an eye j, which receives with an easy fit the pin 1),

so that the-link forms a positive and direct connection between the feelers and the hunter. As the lay swings back, the linkf is pushed rearwardly, the spring 3 holding the hunter from movement. relatively to the lay-sword, and through the arm f and gears f the feelers will be moved toward each other on their feeling stroke. This is completed when the lay is on back center, as shown in full lines, Fig. 1, provided no detector is released, and on the beat up of the lay the link f will be pulled forward and the feelers will swing away from each other, the dotted lines in Fig. 1 showing the lay forward, and the arm f is also indicated in dotted lines. Supposing the lay forward and about to swing back to impart the feeling stroke to the feelers, if a detector is released it drops and engages and arrests the feeler. As the lay continues its backward movement, however, the arrested feeler acts through the link to swing the hunter on its fulcrum past dead-center, and instantly the spring a completes such hunter movement, and the hunter will be p0 sitioned relatively to the lay-sword, as shown in Fig. 3, with the tail 12 against the stop a. Such final spring-actuated movement of the hunter is made effective to retract the feelers, so that the released detector is at once relieved of the strain, and as the detector has performed its duty it makes no difference if it jumps up above the feeler. This has all been effected before the lay reaches bottom center, as shown in Fig. 3, giving ample time for the operation of the various parts, and as the forward heat of the lay continues the hunter-head engages and lifts the rear end of the arm m of the knock-off member. This acts through arm m and the knock-off lever to release the shipper from its holding-notch, and thereby the stopping instrumentality is operated. As the lay completes its forward beat during the described movement of the knock-off member m m the shouldered part m thereof acts to swing the hunter rearward on its fulcrum past dead-center. The spring 3 immediately completes such movement and restoresthe hunter to position shown in Fig. 1 and full lines, Fig. 4, in readiness to effect feeler vibration when the loom is started. The cooperation of the projection 12 with bracket a, or the tail b with stop at, manifestly limits the movement of the hunter relatively to the lay.

It is necessary that the spring s be strong enough merely to overcome the friction ofthe feeler rock-shafts in their bearings and to quickly complete the swing of the hunter on its fulcrum into one or the other of its two positions, so that the engagement of a released detector by a feeler subjects the detector to very little strain and that is of very short duration, as described.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a loom, the lay, a bunter movable wit-h and also relatively to it, a knockoff member to eifect the operation of a stepping instrumentality, warp stop-motion mechanism, including a feeler, a positive connection between it and the hunter, and a spring to normally retain the bunter in position to vibrate the feeler by or through movement of the lay, arrest of the feeler initiating and the spring completing movement of the hunter into position to engage and operate the knock-off member.

2. In a loom, the lay, abunter movable with and also relatively to it, a knock-0E member to effect the operation of a stopping instrumentality, warp stop-motion mechanism, including a vibratable feeler, a link forming a direct and positive connection between it and the hunter, a spring to normally retain the bunter in position to vibrate the feeler by movement of the lay, and a stop to cooperate with the hunter when normally positioned, arrest of the feeler initiating and the spring completing movement of the bunter into position to engage and operate the knock-off member.

3. In a loom, the lay, a pivotally-mounted bunter movable therewith, stops to limit movement of the bunter on its fulcrum, a knock-off member to effect the operation of a stopping instrumentality, warp stop-motion mechanism, including a vibratable feeler, a link directly connecting it with the bunter, and a spring to normally retain the latter against one of the stops and in position to cause the feeling stroke of the feeler on the backward beat of the lay, arrest of the feeler on its feeling stroke acting through the link to initiate, and the spring completing, movement of the hunter into position to engage and operate the knock-off member on the succeeding forward beat of the lay.

4:. In a loom, the lay, a pivotally-mounted bunter movable therewith, a shipper, aknockoff member therefor, warp stop-motion mechanism, including a vibratable feeler, a link directly connecting it with the bunter, and a spring to normally retain the latter in feeleractuating position, the backward beat of the lay effecting the feeling stroke of the feeler and its non-feeling stroke being efiected on the forward beat of the lay, arrest of the feeler acting through the link to throw the hunter over center, the spring completing such movement and positioning the bunter to engage and operate the knock-off member as the lay beats up.

5. In a loom, the lay, a hunter movable with and also relatively to it, a knock-off member to effect the operation of a stopping instrumentality, warp stop-motion mechanism, in-

eluding a feeler, a positive connection between it and the hunter, a spring to normally retain the bunter in position to vibrate the feeler by or through movement of the lay, ar-

rest of the feeler initiating and the spring completing movement of the hunter into position to operate the knock-off member, and means to automatically restore the hunter to normal position after such operation of the knock-off member.

6. In a loom, the lay, abunter movable with and also relatively to it, a knock-01f member to effect the operation of a stopping instrumentality, warp stop-motion mechanism, including a vibratable feeler, a link directly connecting it with the bunter, two stops between which the bunter is movable, a spring to retain the bunter against one or the other stop when thrown past center, the spring normally retaining said bunter in position to ef fect vibration of the feeler by movement of the lay, arrest of the feeler causing movement of the bunter past center and into position to operate the knock-off member, and means on the latter to automatically restore the hunter to normal, feeler-actuating condition after the operation of said knock-off member.

7. In a loom, the lay and a lay-sword, a hunter pivotally mounted on the latter, a shipper, a knock-off lever therefor, warp stop motion mechanism, including a feeler, a link directly connecting it and the hunter, means to limit pivotal movement of the bunter at either side of its fulcrum, and a spring to normally retain the bunter in position to act through the link and cause vibration of the feeler by movement of the lay-sword, arrest of the feeler on the backward stroke of the lay acting through the link to swing the bunter past the dead-center, the spring completing such movement and positioning the bunter to engage and operate the knock-off lever as the lay beats up.

8. In a loom, the lay, and a lay-sword, a hunter pivotally mounted on the latter, a shipper, a knock-Off lever therefor, having a shouldered end, warp stop-motion mechanism, includingavibratable feeler, alink positively and directly connecting it with the bunter, a spring to hold the latter on either side of dead-center until positively moved past it, and oppositely-located stops to limit such movement, the spring normally positioning the hunter to vibrate the feeler by or through movement of the lay, arrest of the feeler on the backward beat of the lay acting through the link to start, and the spring completing, movement of the bunter into position to engage and operate the knock-off lever as the lay heats up, the shouldered end of said lever thereafter restoring the bunter to position to effect feeler vibration.

9; In a loom, the lay, a bunter movable with and also relatively to it, a knock-off member to efiect the operation of a stopping instrumentality, warp stop-motion mechanism, in-

& 744,946

cluding a series of controlling-detectors norof the hunter also acting through the link to mally maintained inoperative by intact warpretract the feeler and relieve the detector threads, and-a vihratable feeler to engage and from pressure. be arrested by a released detector, a link In testimony whereof I have signed my I5 positively and directly connecting the hunter name to this specification in the presence of and feeler, and a spring to normally retain two subscribing witnesses. the hunter in position to vibrate the feeler hy movement of the lay, arrest of the feeler ini- CHARLES ROPER' tiating and the spring completing movement Witnesses: 10 of the hunter into position to engage and op- GEORGE OTIS DRAPER,

erate the knock-off member, such movement ERNEST W. WOOD. 

